Live radio is a completely different animal to the safe and secure environment of pre-recording. Recording offers a second chance and often more, allowing as many ‘takes’ as necessary to get it right. When recording, mistakes can be edited and nobody other than the participants present need hear them. Live radio on the other hand produces adrenalin in the broadcaster as they try to tame this particular beast.
Basic Interviewing Skills
There are few programme controllers who would ever allow an inexperienced broadcaster the chance to do live work without first practising their skills in a pre-recorded situation. The novice would first record various pieces of audio, listen back to it, improve it and learn to iron out any mistakes. Many of the basic skills a radio interviewer learns in recording interviews will still apply in a live broadcast.
- Do sufficient preparation and research.
- Write a list of questions but don’t stick rigidly to them.
- Be aware and take account of environmental considerations.
- Test and become familiar with the equipment beforehand.
- Listen to the responses to the questions and react to them.
- Look interested, maintain eye contact but don’t stare.
- Ask open questions, and avoid closed questions that only offer yes / no answers.
And finally thank the interviewee for their participation – a follow up interview may be required and politeness is frequently remembered. The interviewer also frequently represents a radio organisation.
Interviewing Live the Main Differences
There’s a saying that the main and most obvious difference between broadcasting live and recording an interview is that live, anything can and frequently does happen. This assertion is backed by numerous anecdotal incidents that anything that can go wrong, usually does. There is very little statistical evidence to prove this and despite this, it’s often a great worry to all involved. So perhaps it’s wise to start in ignorance and assume that all will go well. There is much the interviewer can do in their favour however, to swing the scales of fate in the direction of a glitch-free transmission.
The Interviewers Part
- Prepare well – do as much preparatory research as time allows.
- Turn up well before hand – this helps to avoid last minute panics.
- Check the Equipment – more than once.
- Be fully briefed – on when the interview is to take place, where it is, and any useful contacts.
- Know – exactly what type of programming and audience the interview is aimed at.
- Know – how long the interview should last. (Is it a short news insert, a slightly longer in-depth interview, or a major feature?)
- Know who’s being interviewed – write down their names.
The Interviewee’s Part.
Much of what the organiser of the interview can do to control their subject or subjects is obviously out of their hands, but they can and should especially when broadcasting live where time is at a premium and waits for no one try to:
- Avoid last minute panic and ensure the subject or subjects of the interview – are in good time.
- Ensure – the subjects are briefed as much as possible on what’s expected of them.
- Be aware where practicable – of anything that may affect the content about the contributors to the piece, and take considerations of these.
- Ensure the Interviewee - be shown due consideration for their part in the broadcast. (Even though the broadcast is live, be allowed to state their points and reasonably.)
- Make the subjects contribution – worthwhile, relevant and respected.
Conditions and Locations
Each location and type of interview will affect the broadcasting of a live radio interview and is probably the largest contributory single factor that to unforeseen events. The conditions most relevant to each one include:
- Radio Broadcast Studio - here the environment and any technical aspects are at their most controllable.
- Remote Studio – the interviewer and interviewee are in separate locations. The broadcaster may have to accept conditions, foreseen and unforeseen in the other location. A 2nd best to the above, but ISDN has made this type of interview more common and dependable.
- On Location – the situations and conditions are wide ranging. Anything can and does happen – be prepared for every eventuality.
- Phone Interviews – line quality can vary, especially with mobile phones; good for short interviews. Both line and subject are out of the interviewer’s control.
Conclusion
The cardinal sin in broadcasting is to allow ‘dead air,’ or silence to occur for any length of time, and possessing an alternative, just in case, is a sensible option for any planned live interview.
Dan McCurdy - Dan McCurdy is a freelance writer producer creative and lecturer. Dan is one of the UK's most experienced radio writers and producers. ...
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